The Tennessee Moonshine Sippin’ Excursion Train departs from the Tennessee Central Railway Museum (TCRX), which operates out of Nashville, TN, on June 12th, 2021 with downtown Nashville in the distance. Here we find L&;N 405 leading the train as it passes the Nashville & Eastern Railroad where myself and fellow railfan Ryan Scott, of Steelrails, caught our first shots while chasing this train from Nashville to Watertown, TN and back, along the Nashville, and Eastern Railway line.
Once restoration is complete Nashville Steam’s Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway steam locomotive No. 576 will lead trains along this same route! The rest of the power in the consist was L&N F7B 715 & 719, plus TCRX E8A 6902 trailing which led on the return trip.
According to their website: The Tennessee Central Railway Museum is a volunteer, non-profit organization. Our mission is to preserve, restore, interpret, and operate historic railroad equipment to educate our guests about America’s railroads.
Since 1989, TCRM has been running passenger excursions from Nashville to points east such as Lebanon, Watertown, Baxter, Cookeville, and Monterey, Tennessee.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.
CSX President’s Passenger train P001 heads south as it passes through the S curve at Nortonville, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision, with CSX Gevo units 3310, 3271 leading and CSXT 1 & 2 trailing as they pull 11 cars at a little over 1,000ft long.
From what I’m told they had problems with PTC on CSXT 1 & 2 and that’s why they had to put the Gevos on the front during their run back south on June 10th, 2021.
CSX repainted two of its F40PH locomotives, to be used on its business train, into predecessor Baltimore & Ohio’s blue, gray, and black paint scheme. CSX1 is former 9998 (former Amtrak 288) and from what I can find out CSXT 2 is the former F40PH 9993 (former Amtrak 395) but can’t really confirm it for sure. The other F40s are expected to be painted in the same scheme in the coming months as they are cycled through the shops.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 100.
The late afternoon sunlight rakes across the landscape a newly refurbished Metra passenger engine #97 trails behind CSXT 749 and 345 on CSX Q648 as it heads north through Mortons Junction on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Ky on June 14th, 2021.
One of the many things I enjoy about railfanning the Henderson Subdivision is all interesting and unusual moves we get through here, such as this Metra unit. The subdivision currently sees about 20-30 trains a day, with foreign power mixed in, such as CP, CN, rebuilds, BNSF, KCS and from time to time even NS.
According to Wikipedia: Metra (reporting mark METX) is a commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific and BNSF Railways. The system operates 242 stations on 11 rail lines. It is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.
CSXT 3194 (Spirit of our Law Enforcement) crosses over Trace Creek as it makes its way through the hills of Tennessee, at Waverly, TN, as it led Q125-05 (Memphis, TN – East Savannah, GA) east on the CSX Bruceton Subdivision.
From CSX Press Releases – CSX Transportation’s “Spirit of our Law Enforcement” commemorative locomotive CSXT 3194 is being renamed to honor our nation’s police officers who dedicate their lives to serve and protect communities across our network.
CSXT 3194 is painted primarily in black, blue and white, with the slogans “To Protect and Serve” and “Honoring Our Law Enforcement.” It also prominently features the CSX Transportation Railroad Police logo, as well as police, fire and emergency responder logos.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.
Today was my first time chasing the Tennessee Moonshine Sippin’ Excursion Train train from the Tennessee Central Railway Museum (TCRX), which operates out of Nashville, TN on June 12th, 2021. While it was a hot and muggy day, myself and fellow railfan Ryan Scott, of Steelrails, had a great time chasing this train from Nashville to Watertown, TN and back, along the Nashville, and Eastern Railway line. Once restoration is complete Nashville Steam’s Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway steam locomotive No. 576 will lead trains along this same route!
Here Louisville and Nashville #405 (GP7 405) lead the Tennessee Moonshine Sippin’ Excursion Train through the curve at Cherry Valley, TN as they approach their turn-around point of Watertown, TN on the Nashville & Eastern railway with, L&N” F7B 715 & 719, plus TCRX E8A 6902 trailing.
According to their website: The Tennessee Central Railway Museum is a volunteer, non-profit organization. Our mission is to preserve, restore, interpret, and operate historic railroad equipment to educate our guests about America’s railroads.
We have a growing collection of historic equipment, but TCRM is much more than a static museum. Our specialty is operating historic trains, providing a unique opportunity to rediscover vintage rail travel through beautiful Middle Tennessee.
Since 1989, TCRM has been running passenger excursions from Nashville to points east such as Lebanon, Watertown, Baxter, Cookeville, and Monterey, Tennessee.
#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #jimpearsonphotography
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.
CSXT 3322 and 322 lead as CSX J801-06 creeps along as it begins loading at the Warrior Coal mine loop, just outside of Nebo, Kentucky on June 7th, 2021 under stormy skies. This train comes out of CSX Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Ky where it will return to after loading and be combined with another loaded coal train of similar length before heading south on the Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.
CSX President’s Passenger train P001 heads south up the viaduct approaching the bridge over the Ohio River at Henderson, Ky from Evansville, IN, with CSX Gevo units 3310, 3271 leading and CSXT 1 & 2 trailing as they pull 11 cars at a little over 1,000 ft long. Not sure, but I heard they had problems with PTC on CSXT 1 & 2 and thats why they had to put the Gevos on the front on June 10th, 2021.
CSX has repainted two of its F40PH locomotives, to be used on its business train, into predecessor Baltimore & Ohio’s blue, gray, and black paint scheme. CSX1 is former 9998 (former Amtrak 288) and from what I can find out CSXT 2 is the former F40PH 9993 (former Amtrak 395) but cant really confirm it for sure. The other F40s are expected to be painted in the same scheme in the coming months as they are cycled through the shops.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.
Switcher GMTX 397 backs a string of tank cars under the flyover for the CN at the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) yard at Paducah, Kentucky on June 8th, 2021 as a PAL yard crew works on building trains on a stormy afternoon.
According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The 270-mile line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986.
The 223-mile (359 km) main route runs between Paducah and Louisville with branch lines from Paducah to Kevil and Mayfield, Kentucky, and another from Cecilia to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The PAL interchanges with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Canadian National (CN), formerly Illinois Central Railroad, in Paducah. In Madisonville, the line interchanges with CSX Transportation (CSXT).
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.
CSXT 3322 and 322 lead as CSX J801-06 creeps along as it starts to load at the Warrior Coal mine loop, just outside of Nebo, Kentucky on June 7th, 2021 under stormy skies. This train comes out of CSX Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Ky where it will return to after loading and be combined with another loaded coal train of similar length before heading south on the Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.
Not the shot I had originally planned for this location of CSXT 3194 (Spirit of our Law Enforcement) unit leading CSX Q125 east across the Tennessee River, but a good alternate shot, none the less!
My primary spot for this location was going to be up close to the drawbridge with the train coming across, but when I flew down to the location, I realized the battery on the drone was at 52 percent.
I left the drone in place till the battery dropped to 28% and flew it back to me to change it (didnt want it to drop from the sky into the river). Not sure at the time why it was so low as I keep all the batteries on charge with an inverter in my SUV, but when I checked the inverter had come unplugged and all three batteries were less than 50% charged, I put the next strongest battery in (48%) and went airborne in time to see the train coming down the throat of the bridge!
Even in sport mode I knew I wouldnt make it back to my spot and so I set up for this secondary spot for this shot I knew I was going to crop as a vertical image. From now on Ill always remember to make sure the charger is connected before I hit the road!
According to CSX Press Releases – CSX Transportation’s “Spirit of our Law Enforcement” commemorative locomotive CSXT 3194 was renamed and painted to honor our nation’s police officers who dedicate their lives to serve and protect communities across our network.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.
I’ve been wanting to catch this unit out in the wild since it was unveiled back in 2019 and it finally got into my shooting area yesterday, June 5th, 2021. Here I caught CSXT 3194 (Spirit of our Law Enforcement) as it crossed over the Harpeth River through the hills of Tennessee, just west of Pegram, as it led Q125-05 (Memphis, TN – East Savannah, GA).
This was during the Memphis to Nashville, TN leg of its journey and this is my favorite spot from where I chased it between New Johnsonville and Nashville on the CSX Bruceton Subdivision along with a bunch of fellow railfans. A big shoutout goes to all the folks that gave heads up and sent messages about this move for all of us who were out trackside!
From CSX Press Releases – CSX Transportation’s “Spirit of our Law Enforcement” commemorative locomotive CSXT 3194 is being renamed to honor our nation’s police officers who dedicate their lives to serve and protect communities across our network.
CSXT 3194 is painted primarily in black, blue and white, with the slogans “To Protect and Serve” and “Honoring Our Law Enforcement.” It also prominently features the CSX Transportation Railroad Police logo, as well as police, fire and emergency responder logos.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.
A Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) crew pulls an empty coal drag into the north end of their yard in downtown Paducah, Kentucky on May7th, 2021 after finishing their run from the loadout at Calvert City, Ky, with DPU 6252 leading.
The PAL crew will tie the train down in the south end of the yard where itll wait for a BNSF crew to take it on south for another load of coal.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 380mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 450.
CSXT 5419 heads up work train J056 as pulls into the siding at Camden, Tennessee as it makes its way south on the CSX Bruceton Subdivision, passing under the Forrest Avenue overpass.
The Bruceton Subdivision is owned by CSX Transportation and runs from Nashville, Tennessee, to Camden, Tennessee, for a total of 87.7 miles (141.1 km). At its east end the line continues west from the Nashville Terminal Subdivision and at its west end the line continues west as the Memphis Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.
Ohio River Scenic Railway BUGX 1752 (EMD FP9A) brings up the rear on the last train of the day, on May 1st, 2021, as it passes through the Ohio River Flood Wall opening at Tell City, Indiana while railfans document its move.
BUGX 1752 is an ex-CN Rebuilt EMD that is leased now by the Ohio River Scenic Railway from Dieselmotive Company of Northern California. It is a former Canadian National FP9A unit, which was recently sold by Pioneer RailCorp affiliate Keokuk Junction Railway to Dieselmotive and has become one of their lease units.
Ohio River Scenic Railway is headquartered out of Tell City, Indiana and they run through Perry and Spencer Counties in southern Indiana on the weekends. For more and updated information visit their website at https://www.ohiorivertrain.com/ and take a ride behind this beautiful locomotive!
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm with a 1.4 teleconverter @ 750mm, f/8.5, 1/1250, ISO 900.
On May 28th, 2021 Paducah and Louisville Railways UK 2012 leads on LG1 (Louisville Gas and Electric) as the train pulls away from the Warrior Coal Mine loop, just outside Nebo, Kentucky as it begins its trip north to the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant just outside Louisville, Ky to deliver yet another load of coal!
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm with a 1.4 teleconverter @ 850mm, f/9, 1/1600, ISO 1800.
On May 8th, 2021 Paducah and Louisville Railway’s 4516 and 4503 bring up the rear as DPUs on LG1 (Louisville Gas and Electric) as the last few cars pass under the loadout at Warrior Coal Mine, just outside Nebo, Kentucky.
Once finished loading this train made its way north to the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant just outside Louisville, Ky to deliver yet another load of black gold! This train runs loaded toward Louisville every other day and the empties run on the opposite days back to Warrior Coal or Armstrong Coal at McHenry, Ky for loading.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100.
CN loaded coke train U70091-28 heads southbound on the Fulton Subdivision, with engineer Darren Doss at the controls of CN 3868 on May 29th, 2021 as it passes the Amtrak station southbound through downtown Newbern, TN,.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.
BNSF 5202 and KCS 4677 leading loaded ethanol train CSX K423 (Bensenville, IL (CP) – Tampa, FL) through the Crofton Cut, north of Crofton, Kentucky on April 22nd, 2021 as they head south on the Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.
Canadian National U72481-05 heads southbound over the Ohio River bridge between Metropolis, IL and West Paducah, KY carrying a load of Iron ore from Keenan, MN to Convent, LA on the CN Bluford Subdivision.
According to Wikipedia: The Mesabi Iron Range is a mining district in northeastern Minnesota following an elongate trend containing large deposits of iron ore. It is the largest of four major iron ranges in the region collectively known as the Iron Range of Minnesota. First described in 1866, it is the chief iron ore mining district in the United States. The district is located largely in Itasca and Saint Louis counties. It has been extensively worked since 1892 and has seen a transition from high-grade direct shipping ores through gravity concentrates to the current industry exclusively producing iron ore (taconite) pellets.
There are three iron ranges in northern Minnesota, the Cuyuna, the Vermilion, and the Mesabi. Most of the world’s iron ore, including that contained in northern Minnesota, was formed during the middle Precambrian period.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.